Cong. Celler Offers Plan for Tenth Anniversary of Balfour Declaration

October 31, 1927

Suggests to British Ambassador that Palestine Issue Special Coins

Interesting suggestions to the Palestine government on how to mark the tenth anniversary of the issuance of the Balfour Declaration were made by Congressman Emanuel Celler in a communication to Sir Esme Howard, British Ambassador to the United States.

Mr. Celler proposed that the government issue coins commemorating the occasion. These coins could be sold for the benefit of the Hebrew University and other institutions in Palestine. Mr. Celler suggests in his letter in which he stated:

“November 2nd will mark the Tenth Anniversary of the issuance by the British Government of the famous letter of Earl Balfour to Lord Rothschild, popularly referred to as the Balfour Declaration.

“It seems to me that this anniversary marking a decade of achievement by the Jews in Palestine, should be fittingly commemorated. To that end, could not the Palestinian Government be prevailed upon to issue a series of stamps commemorative of significent events of the last ten years relating to its administration in Palestine such as Lord Allenby entering Jerusalem; the dedication of the Hebrew University at Palestine by Earl Balfour; the harnessing of the waters of the Jordan River, etc.?

“In addition this anniversary of the Balfour Declaration ## be used as the occasion for the ## by the Palestinian Government of ##. These could be struck off possibly with the heads of ## Balfour and Dr. Theodor Herub former of the Zionist movement, with appropriate ## thereupon in English Arable and Hebrew. These coins could be tendered to the Zionists World Organization at ## and by is in turn to be sold to members throughout the world at a higher price. The profits to be derived therefrom could be devoted to the Hebrew University and to other undertakings in Palestine.

“Recently the United States ## coins in commemoration of the erects of our Civil War and these coins, under similar conditions were sold by the Stone ## Association. I am informed that said Association secured two hundred and fifty thousand special silver fifty-cent pieces and they were given the right to dispose of the same at a higher price. The Association thereby secured a large sun of ## enabling it to build a magnificent material at ##.